Friday, September 15, 2006

Rangers, IceDiggers win; TC downed

The Marquette Rangers and Alpena IceDiggers are both now 2-0 on the season as each team continued their winning ways yesterday at the NAHL Showcase. Traverse City wasn't as fortunate as the North Stars dropped a tight game to Bismarck.

Marquette took a 4-2 victory over the Southern Minnesota Express. The Rangers got goals from four different players in Iiro Junnila, Nic Weight, Nick Kosinski and Neeco Belanger. Goaltender Stephen Ritter stopped 29 shots. Today's game is scheduled for noon against the Alaska Avalanche.

The IceDiggers scored five power-play goals en route to a 7-4 win against the North Iowa Outlaws. Captain Nolan Craner tallied a goal and added three assists while linemates Drew Pierson and Todd Rudasill each chipped in two goals while Rudasill also added an assist. Assistant captain Ben Kitzmiller scored twice and added an assist while rookie backliner Chad Billins recorded three assists. Shawn Hunwick earned the win making 28 saves in net and also added an assist on the Craner goal. Alpena plays the Texas Tornado today at 3:30 p.m.

Traverse City fell to the Bobcats, 4-3. Goaltender Stefan Shively made 36 saves and Jared Mullen, Zach Hitch and captain Patrick Nagorsen scored for the 1-1 North Stars, who play the Santa Fe Roadrunners today at 4:30 p.m.